Hi there. Welcome in!
My name is Thea Whalen, and I’m a systems thinker, designer, and doctoral researcher who’s spent the last 10+ years turning complex ideas into clear, usable tools. I work at the intersection of policy, design, and public communication, with a background in housing, education, and organizational strategy.
My Story
I’ve worked across various sectors, including real estate, education, and nonprofit strategy and operations, and one thing I’ve learned is this: even the smartest ideas fall flat if people can’t see them clearly.
My background includes managing a $3M real estate portfolio, teaching graduate-level operations and leadership, and building communications tools for nonprofits, researchers, and advocacy groups. I’m also finishing my doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership, where I study housing inequality and the systems that keep people stuck in cycles of poverty.
Polstrat Studio is the home for my design and strategy work, building slide decks, infographics, toolkits, and templates that help organizations move their mission forward. The Neutral Lens is my ongoing visual explainer series that breaks down policies, systems, and structural inequities for the public. It’s designed to be clear, accessible, and politically neutral without watering down the truth.
I care about clarity, equity, and systems that work for people. Whether I’m building a communications strategy or designing a single slide, my goal is the same: help people understand what’s really going on and what they can do about it.
What Makes Me Different
I’m not just a designer. I’m a strategist, researcher, and educator who understands how systems work and how people think. My work isn’t about making things look pretty (though that’s part of it); it’s about making ideas click for funders, policymakers, students, and the public. Here’s what sets me apart:
1
I work across disciplines.
I’ve built housing portfolios, taught in higher ed, run teams of 40+ team members, and now research inequality and public systems at the doctoral level. I don’t just design for clarity, I know the content.
2
I speak policy and plain language.
I can translate a dense academic paper, a budget proposal, or a grant strategy into something anyone can understand and act on. I don't use fancy phrasing or try to fluff my work.
3
I design through problem solving.
Every layout, visual, and tool I create is built to solve a real problem. My work isn't just about communication; it's about structuring information in a way that works. It’s design as systems thinking: practical, intentional, and results-driven.